Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes is glad that the league was able to come up with a solution to ensure that all teams will see action in the Lakan Cup resumption in Subic, Zambales.
“Ginawan talaga natin ng paraan,” said the cage legend in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum webcast, Tuesday.
It was feared that the four-team semifinal cast would not be complete after a report by Tiebreaker Times just last week said that Basilan Steel was unsure of participating in the tournament due to budgetary constraints.
The Phenom Sports Management-backed ball club has become one of the watched teams in the regional semi-pro league for their rise from being a cellar-dwelling crew in the 2018-19 Datu Cup to a solid contender.
The Steel are just a win away from the Finals until uncertainties clouded their participation, leaving head coach Jerson Cabiltes rueful.
“Now we don’t know if we are even going to participate. This is something we have no control of, but we are still hoping for the best,” the youthful bench tactician was quoted as saying in the same report.
Fortunately, no team will have to miss out on the bubble play that starts Wednesday. And the squads can now focus on the grind ahead.
Basilan battles last season’s finalists Davao Occidental in the South Division Finals, while reigning national champions San Juan and Makati slug it out in the North Division Finals in another winner-take-all bout.
Duremdes expressed in the session powered by SMART and presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and PAGCOR how thankful he is that the long-stalled season finally resumes.
The last MPBL game played was on March 11, where the Tigers defeated the Steel in Lamitan to force a rubber match in the South Finals.
“Salamat naman at nandito na silang apat ngayon sa Subic at natuloy din–dahil din naman sa collective effort natin, hindi lang naman si MPBL nag-ano but of course with the players and the team owners,” said Duremdes in the session powered by Smart and with Upstream Media as official webcast partner and presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
“Natutuwa po tayo at natuloy din po sila in spite of the challenges na nangyari sa team nila. Worth it naman ‘yung effort na ginawa natin, and nagpapasalamat kami sa mga taong tumulong sa amin.”
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